Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Does this take a look at produce other names?
CEA
What is that this take a look at?
This take a look at measures a protein known as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in your blood. This protein is discovered on some varieties of most cancers cells.
CEA is known as a tumor marker as a result of it provides details about most cancers in your physique. This take a look at could assist your healthcare supplier discover out in case your most cancers remedy is working. It might additionally assist your supplier know if the most cancers is coming again after remedy. The take a look at can be utilized with cancers of the colon and rectum, lung, breast, pancreas, ovary, prostate, liver, and thyroid.
Your healthcare supplier can’t inform what kind of most cancers you’ve got primarily based on this take a look at. As a result of CEA could be current in situations that are not most cancers and will not be current for all cancers, this take a look at is not often used for most cancers screening.
Why do I want this take a look at?
You could want this take a look at when you’ve got already been identified with most cancers and your healthcare supplier is planning remedy. CEA might help your supplier know extra about your most cancers earlier than remedy begins.
You might have this take a look at throughout most cancers remedy to assist your supplier understand how properly the remedy is working.
In case you have already been handled for most cancers, you might want this take a look at to assist discover out whether or not your most cancers has come again.
What different checks would possibly I’ve together with this take a look at?
Your healthcare supplier could order different checks to search out out extra about your most cancers. These could embrace X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and biopsies.
What do my take a look at outcomes imply?
Check outcomes could fluctuate relying in your age, gender, well being historical past, and different issues. Your take a look at outcomes could also be completely different relying on the lab used. They could not imply you’ve got an issue. Ask your healthcare supplier what your take a look at outcomes imply for you.
CEA is measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Regular outcomes are 2.5 ng/mL or decrease in nonsmokers.
However having a traditional CEA degree would not rule out most cancers. Some individuals with most cancers have a traditional CEA.
And better ranges of CEA do not imply you’ve got most cancers. Many situations aside from most cancers could cause CEA to go up. These embrace:
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Infections
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Liver illness
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Ulcers
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Breast cysts
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Lung issues
How is that this take a look at finished?
The take a look at is finished with a blood pattern. A needle is used to attract blood from a vein in your arm or hand.
Does this take a look at pose any dangers?
Having a blood take a look at with a needle carries some dangers. These embrace bleeding, an infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you might really feel a slight sting or ache. Afterward, the positioning could also be sore.
What would possibly have an effect on my take a look at outcomes?
Being pregnant or being a smoker can elevate your CEA ranges. A CEA of as much as 5.0 ng/mL could be thought of regular in people who smoke.
How do I prepare for this take a look at?
You needn’t put together for this take a look at. Be certain your healthcare supplier is aware of about all medicines, herbs, nutritional vitamins, and dietary supplements you take. This consists of medicines that do not want a prescription and any unlawful medication you might use.